Jamshedpur, Sept. 30: Traffic on National Highway-33 near Dimna Chowk (Mango) was brought to a grinding halt for over four hours this morning as BJP leaders led by legislators Sarayu Roy and Raghubar Das staged a blockade demanding implementation of Mango drinking water project.

Heavy vehicles, long-route buses, other minibuses and private cars were seen stranded along the highway, commuters coming from Patamda, Pardih and Chandil also had a tough time as they could not cross the NH-33. Many inter-state buses, including Bihar State Road Transport Corporation, which had started for different parts of Jharkhand, including Ranchi, were held up. Around 8am, the protesters took to the highway near Pardih, nearly 5km from Dimna Chowk, blocking the movement of traffic.

BJP MLA Sarayu Roy rushed to the Chowk, urging his supporters to halt the dharna near Dimna Chowk.

Shyam Kumar, a passenger, who had boarded a BSRTC bus from Ranchi said: “The opposition should raise issues on the floor of the Assembly, and not hold up traffic. They should work in the interest of the common people.”

Around 10.30am, deputy commissioner Nitin Madan Kulkarni inform the agitators that the government had agreed to lay foundation of the project on November 15, and handed over a letter in this regard to Roy. Only then the blockade was lifted.

The urban department had cancelled a tender worth Rs 41 crore floated during the NDA regime. It had alleged failure to include an operation maintenance column for the project. Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company had submitted the lowest bid.